One horse dead, apparently injected with gasoline

Published: Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 5:11 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 5:11 p.m.

BELLEVIEW — One horse has died while a second horse is ill from what appears to be someone injecting the animals with gasoline.

The incidents, which were reported to the Marion County Sheriff's Office recently, have occurred at small horse farms in Belleview located on Southeast 55th Avenue Road.

In the first incident, a horse owner told a sheriff's deputy that when they checked on the horse, the horse appeared sick and later died. Testing was done on the horse and it appeared the horse had been injected in the shoulder. When the shoulder was cut, gasoline was smelled coming from the area.

In the second instance, it appears someone injected the horse in the neck. A veterinarian cut open the affected area and could smell gasoline coming from the wound, officials said. That horse is sick, officials added.

Those living in the neighborhood are asked to be on the lookout for any strange person or activities and report any suspicious incident seen in the area.

Anyone with any information can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

<p>BELLEVIEW — One horse has died while a second horse is ill from what appears to be someone injecting the animals with gasoline.</p><p>The incidents, which were reported to the Marion County Sheriff's Office recently, have occurred at small horse farms in Belleview located on Southeast 55th Avenue Road.</p><p>In the first incident, a horse owner told a sheriff's deputy that when they checked on the horse, the horse appeared sick and later died. Testing was done on the horse and it appeared the horse had been injected in the shoulder. When the shoulder was cut, gasoline was smelled coming from the area.</p><p>In the second instance, it appears someone injected the horse in the neck. A veterinarian cut open the affected area and could smell gasoline coming from the wound, officials said. That horse is sick, officials added.</p><p>Those living in the neighborhood are asked to be on the lookout for any strange person or activities and report any suspicious incident seen in the area.</p><p>Anyone with any information can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, text a tip to 274637 using keyword 368-STOP or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p>